As a self-described theatre geek and culture vulture, Maia is always partaking in the arts. This will be the place to hear about what she's seen and her recommendations on what you should behold; in the theatre world and beyond.

Final Weekend: “Hardball” at Annex Theatre

Shawn Belyea and Jaime Roberts as Daniel and Virginia in Victoria Stewart's Hardball.

This rise of opinion journalism has shot some of the now most-hated people on television into celebrity; I’m looking at you Bill O’Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Victoria Stewart’s theatrical commentary on faux news, Hardball, centers on the trajectory of conservative newspaper journalist, Virgina Eames (Jaime Roberts), from credible reporter to unscrupulous political commentator. Her character is based on Ann Coulter.

After being fired for wearing political paraphernalia in the workplace (reporters are supposed appear non-partisan), Virginia parlays her self-blogged tale of victimhood into an interview on political talk show, The Press Speaks. Unbeknown to her, another guest would be on the show that day; right-wing pundit Jim Lauderdale (Roy Stanton). He embarrassingly slays her arguments on-camera, and host, Irene Shay (Jill Snyder), chides her for being unprepared. Despite her initial defeat, Virgina is driven and determined to rebound, heading home to practice her next on-camera interview into the camcorder set up in her living room.

Virgina Eames eventually teams up with Lauderdale, (an impressive performance by Stanton) who assists in her transformation from nuanced conservative to provocative, biased talking-head. Tempered by former boss and love interest, Daniel Cameron (Shawn Belyea), Virgina is torn between what is right and what will ultimately get her to the top. You’ll know when she interviews the widow of a recently slain liberal journalist. Virgina has most definitely learned to play the game.

Hardball is a complex piece of theater – evoking some critical thought about the political news circuit. Do facts matter if the delivery is staunch enough, or are opinions in visually appealing female packages more important? Roberts is convincing as the conniving, power-hungry Eames and The Live Girls! Theater production is well acted while making an impressive use of Annex’s small space set-wise.